Abstract
The FENICE project aims to enhance the sustainability of agri-food chains by valorizing Italian agri-food by-products (i.e., residues from the olive oil, citrus, and chestnut industries) as innovative nutraceuticals for the prevention and management of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Adopting a multidisciplinary approach that includes advanced phytochemical profiling, in vitro bioactivity assays on intestinal models, and simulated gastrointestinal digestion, FENICE seeks to identify the most promising plant-based supplements. Among its goals is the evaluation of by-products from Citrus × aurantium and Citrus × limon fruit processing, for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential. The project will provide new insights into the sustainable exploitation of local plant matrices for health-promoting applications, while contributing to food waste reduction. Expected outcomes include preclinical data, dissemination across scientific and public domains, and potential industrial valorization strategies.
Results achieved
The project achieved its scientific and methodological objectives by establishing an integrated pipeline for the selection and biological validation of bioactive complexes obtained from agri-food by-products. Six by-products from the citrus, olive oil, and chestnut production chains were recovered, assessed for quality and safety, processed using food-compatible extraction procedures, and characterized through complementary spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques. The resulting complexes were subjected to comparative chemical and biological screening, simulated gastrointestinal digestion, and microbiological investigations. Their bioaccessible fractions were evaluated in intestinal epithelial models using cell-viability and wound-healing assays. This integrated assessment enabled the prioritization of citrus-derived complexes, which showed the strongest overall biological performance among the investigated matrices. The selected citrus complexes were further evaluated in inflammation-induced intestinal epithelial models, showing protective and modulatory effects associated with epithelial barrier integrity, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses. An advanced epithelial–immune co-culture system was also developed and technically validated to reproduce key features of intestinal inflammatory conditions. This transferable platform can support the evaluation of additional food-derived bioactive complexes under more physiologically relevant experimental conditions. Overall, FENICE delivered prioritized candidate complexes, integrated chemical, microbiological, and cellular datasets, a standardized and reproducible selection workflow, and an advanced in vitro intestinal model. The project also generated an open-access scientific publication, conference communications, and additional manuscripts currently in preparation. These outcomes provide a foundation for future preclinical investigations and potential technology-transfer activities while supporting circular-economy strategies for the sustainable reuse of agri-food residues.Dettagli del progetto
Responsabile scientifico: Manuela Mandrone
Strutture Unibo coinvolte:
Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie
Coordinatore:
Università degli Studi di MESSINA(Italy)
Contributo totale Unibo: Euro (EUR) 65.322,00
Durata del progetto in mesi: 24
Data di inizio
16/10/2023
Data di fine:
30/01/2026
